Technique to avoid left ventricular outflow tract obstruction

Preserving the subvalvular mitral valve apparatus during mitral valve replacement is extremely important to minimize progressive postoperative left ventricular remodeling and dysfunction. We describe a simple and reproducible surgical technique that prevents the complications that can occur after total mitral anterior leaflet preservation.

Late Chronic Tamponade after Intraoperative Right Ventricular Rupture Repair with Mediastinal Fat

Advanced age and female sex are known risk factors for ventricular wall rupture during open-heart procedures. We present the case of an 83-year-old female patient with an intraoperative traumatic right ventricular free wall rupture during an aortic valve replacement procedure. Pledgetted interrupted sutures reinforced with large pieces of mediastinal fat were used for rupture repair. After 6 months, the patient was readmitted with the diagnosis of a retrosternal mediastinal mass and clinical signs of cardiac tamponade that required reoperation.

[Biatrial vs. isolated left atrial cryoablation for the treatment of long-lasting permanent atrial fibrillation. Midterm recurrence rate]

The long-term results of cryomaze in patients with longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation during concomitant surgical procedures are still uncertain.

METHODS

Between 2006 and 2011, 150 consecutive patients with associated long-lasting permanent atrial fibrillation and associated heart disease underwent heart surgery were treated by biatrial Cox-Maze (63 patients) or by isolated endocardial or epicardial left atrial cryoablation (83 patients) concomitantly. The results at 3 years in these groups were compared with clinical monitoring, electrocardiography, 24-hour Holter, and echocardiography with measurement of the transmitral A wave at 1, 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter in all patients.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing Cox-Maze IV ablation presented rates of freedom from atrial fibrillation of 97, 94, 89, 80 and 54% at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively. In the 12-month follow-up, these differences were significant (p<.05). The independent risk factors of atrial fibrillation recurrence was isolated ablation of left atrium.

CONCLUSIONS

Atrial fibrillation by cryothermia ablation had a high success rate before 2 years postoperatively. Recurrence of atrial fibrillation increased thereafter regardless of the technique used, although it was more intense and developed earlier in cases of monoatrial ablation. For the treatment of other long-lasting permanent atrial fibrillation cardiac surgery-associated pathology, an aggressive biatrial treatment with Cox maze ablation should be performed.

Chordal Rupture Following MitraClip Implantation Resulting in Massive Mitral Regurgitation

MitraClip (Abbott Vascular) therapy has been reported to be a safe and effective treatment for mitral regurgitation, even when the commissures are targeted. However, complications during the procedure may occur. We present a 44-year-old patient who underwent MitraClip implantation complicated by chordal rupture, resulting in emergent mitral valve replacement.

Efficacy of Oral Anticoagulation in Stroke Prevention among Sinus-Rhythm Patients Who Lack Left Atrial Mechanical Contraction after Cryoablation

The customary recommendation is that oral anticoagulation be withdrawn a few months after cryoablation for atrial fibrillation, independently of left atrial mechanical contraction in patients in sinus rhythm. Recently, a 5-fold increase in stroke has been described in sinus-rhythm patients who lack atrial mechanical contraction. One aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral anticoagulation in preventing postoperative stroke in such patients. This prospective study divided 154 sinus-rhythm patients into 2 groups, depending on the presence (108 patients) or absence (46 patients) of left atrial mechanical contraction at 6 months after surgery, and monitored them annually for 5 years. Those without left atrial contraction were maintained on acenocumarol. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of ischemic stroke. The median follow-up period was 29 ± 16 months; 4 patients (2.5%), all belonging to the group with preserved atrial contraction, had ischemic stroke; the group of patients without left atrial contraction had no episodes of stroke during follow-up. Logistic binary regression analyses showed no evidence of factors independently predictive of stroke. Among anticoagulated patients in sinus rhythm without left atrial contraction, we found the incidence of stroke to be zero. In a small, nonrandomized group such as this, we cannot discount the element of chance, yet we suggest that maintaining anticoagulation might lower the incidence of stroke in this population.

Subclinical Hypothyroidism Might Increase the Risk of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Aortic Valve Replacement

Background To evaluate the influence of subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) on the development of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Methods A prospective study in a tertiary hospital between July 2005 and December 2013 in which all patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with no other valve surgery were consecutively included. Patients who were in preoperative sinus rhythm were selected and they underwent thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone determination in the month before surgery. Postoperative AF was defined as the development of AF during hospital admittance. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression were performed for the target variable. Results A total of 467 patients were studied, with 35 cases of SCH. The incidence of postoperative AF was 57% in the group with SCH versus 30.3% (p = 0.001) in the group without hypothyroidism, without significant differences in other postoperative complications. In the logistic regression analysis, the independent predictors of postoperative AF were SCH, age, and aortic clamping time. SCH multiplies the odds ratio of postoperative AF by 3.14 (95% confidence interval: 1.24-7.96). Conclusion SCH behaves like a risk factor for the development of postoperative AF in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with extracorporeal circulation. Other studies are needed to determine whether preoperative T4 replacement therapy and/or more aggressive AF prophylaxis can prevent this complication in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Third CoreValve™ insertion for treatment of a severe paravalvular leak after a failed valve-in-valve procedure

An 83-year-old high-risk gentleman diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis was scheduled for TAVR. A 31 mm CoreValve was implanted but severe paravalvular leak was noted. A valve-in-valve procedure was performed. However, the valve frame was partially dislodged into de ascending aorta. We report our strategy to solve this severe leak after a failed valve-in-valve procedure.

Left main coronary artery compression by a left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm

Myocardial ischaemia due to extrinsic left main coronary artery compression is unusual. Most cases are related to pulmonary hypertension with severe main pulmonary artery dilatation. An extremely rare cause is a left sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA). We describe the case of a patient diagnosed of left SVA after a coronary angiography and aortography, whose initial clinical manifestation was an acute coronary syndrome complicated with an out-hospital resuscitated sudden cardiac death.

Mitral stenosis after IMR ETlogix ring annuloplasty for ischemic regurgitation

Objectives: Ring annuloplasty combined with coronary artery bypass grafting is the standard approach for treatment of patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation. We evaluated mitral valve hemodynamic performance and recurrence of mitral regurgitation after ring annuloplasty.

Patients and methods: 40 consecutive patients (mean age, 70 ± 8 years) with chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation grade ≥2+ received annuloplasty with an IMR ETlogix ring. During follow-up (25.9 ± 15.5 months), 84% of surviving patients underwent exercise stress echocardiography to assess recurrence of mitral regurgitation and differences between rest and exercise mitral valve hemodynamic performance.

Results: Hospital mortality was 10%. During follow-up, we found no significant differences between left ventricular ejection fraction or end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters pre- and postoperatively (41% vs. 45%, 59 vs. 56 mm, and 49 vs. 46 mm, respectively), but there was a significant increase in mitral mean gradient with exercise (3.3 ± 1.2 vs. 7.8 ± 4 mm Hg, p < 0.001). Two patients had mitral regurgitation ≥grade III–IV.

Conclusions: Mitral annuloplasty with the IMR ETlogix ring provides effective correction of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation, but this technique may induce functional mitral stenosis.

Early thrombosis of a tricuspid annuloplasty ring and mild hyperhomocysteinemia

Tricuspid annuloplasty ring thrombosis is an extremely infrequent pathology, and no evidence-based antithrombotic management has been described. We present the case of a 40-year-old female with isolated mild hyperhomocysteinemia and early ring thrombus formation after surgical primary closure of an atrial septal defect and ring tricuspid annuloplasty. Clinical management, antithrombotic treatment, and hyperhomocysteinemia implications are discussed.

Mitral valve prosthesis implanted in atrial wall over huge calcified annulus

We describe an alternative technique for mitral valve replacement in patients with severe mitral annular calcification, in whom conventional techniques are not feasible. A new annulus that allows supra-annular prosthetic implantation is created.